UW’s Polk prepares to face USC team he spurned

There’ll be a lot of hype about the showdown between Washington football coach Steve Sarkisian and his former USC team this week, but at least one Husky has some personal incentive of his own.

Redshirt freshman running back Chris Polk originally committed to the Trojans before flip-flopping and signing with Tyrone Willingham two years ago. And the youngster from Redlands, Calif., figures USC will be eager to show him the error of his ways.

“I know they’re going to want to attack me for that,” said Polk, who has grabbed hold of the Huskies’ tailback position with 40 carries for 170 yards in the first two games. “And I’m from there, I grew up watching them. They were the team everybody wanted to be part of.

“But I came here and I’m glad for my decision. They weren’t glad though, so I’m sure it’ll be a game where they come out and try to put me on my back.”

And what fueled that choice to spurn USC after originally committing to Pete Carroll?

“I didn’t want to go somewhere where I’d sit out like two years,” he said. “Rather than be part of a winning team, I would like to rebuild a team. I just went with what I thought would be the best fit for me and be the earliest playing time.

“It’s working out.”

Things weren’t so rosy a year ago when Polk struggled his first two games, then suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. He considered quitting school, struggled through the 0-12 misery and then received new life when Sarkisian — who helped recruit him originally to USC — was hired to turn things around.

“Everybody in our class came in and thought this would be the year to turn it around. But things don’t always go the way you plan,” Polk said. “You have to keep your head up and stay focused on that task because adversity will show up. And last season was adversity at its finest.”

Saturday’s 42-23 victory over Idaho breathed fresh air through the program. Sarkisian said he’d hoped to establish more of the run game, but leaned on the pass as Jake Locker threw for three touchdowns and moved the ball freely throughout the game.

No worries from Polk, who carried 19 times for 80 yards and scored on a 1-yard plunge in the third quarter to put Washington up 28-9.

“It was pretty cool,” he said. “We finally got my first college win and first college touchdown on the same day, so it was a pretty good day.

“I felt things went great. I’m not selfish. I’ll do whatever it takes to get a win. If the pass is going, then keep passing. Go for it. Whatever it takes to win. I do feel like I missed some opportunities to make people miss by not making some cuts, but I’ll work hard in practice and that will come.”

It’ll have to come this week against a very good USC defense, but Polk figures the Huskies will be ready for the challenge of the third-ranked Trojans.

“When we play SC, it’s like a whole different atmosphere,” he said. “Everybody is amped up because we feel we have something to prove.”

Especially a highly recruited running back who once thought he was going to be a Trojan.